Jack Layton (1950–2011)

No other book that I have ever read has at once made me as proud to be a Canadian and as ashamed at the same time. This book has given me a mini education in how our Government works and how economic policies are determined. This book has educated me in the vast scope of what my fellow Canadians are capable of achieving and indeed have done to make this a great country. I am so proud of my country and being a Canadian. At the same time I am so distressed at what our current government is show more doing to our country. All I could think of while reading this book was "how can I get this man elected." I am a member of the NDP here in B.C. but being in western Canada I don't have the opportunity to meet most of the nations elected representatives in Ottawa. This book gave me the opportunity to see inside the head of Jack Layton, the national leader of the NDP and I now feel that I know the issues from a national standpoint much better. I think the viewpoint in this book reflects the majority of Canadian's thinking. Complicated issues made understandable and easy to read by the ordinary citizen, this book is a *must read* by all Canadians. Though I agree with the NDP policies generally I had no idea that the leader of this forward thinking party was so innovative. Any Canadian that thinks that the Liberal or Conservative parties are representing our voices in Ottawa and implementing what is in our best interests, now or in the future, is in for a shock when they read this book. I highly recommend all Canadians of any party affiliation to read it, if only to know what the alternatives are to the current direction that our elected officials in Ottawa are leading us. show less

After, Jack Layton's death, I felt the loss. Just when I was beginning to learn more about my country and it's politics, the country lost one of it's leaders. I felt that Jack Layton was different from other politicians. His voice, his message, his way, and his strength was like no other.

Reading this book, a year after his death, opened my eyes like no other book. I realized that I knew next to nothing about my own counties politics. The book was written in simple terms. It was informative show more and interesting. I sure am happy that I took the time to read it and gotten to know Jacx a little better. show less

Sorry Jack, I really wanted to be able to say that I enjoyed this book, but it expired after I'd had it for two weeks and I had only made it to chapter seven. There are some heart-warming stories in it about how things can be done in a more human- and earth-friendly way which raises it from the one star I'd normally give to a book I couldn't finish, but overall this read like an extended advertisement for the NDP and all the name-dropping was extremely tedious. This is the first book I've show more ever read by a politician and I suspect it will be my last. show less